PINK UP: Cancer fight song to motivate patients, givers

One in eight women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer over the course of their lifetime.

However, Patricia Silman is using her talents in hopes of changing that.

Silman is the composer of "The Cancer Fight Song" - a motivational piece she wrote inspired by the pink that decorates Cape Girardeau.

In the song she sings, "Our town is all, pinked-up; our town is all, pinked-up."

Silman dedicated the song to her sister-in-law who died of lung cancer.

She's also watched as another family member battles breast cancer.

"It's become a house hold name and it's something that is so prevalent that it's just everywhere," Silman said.

She says the song is meant to inspire cancer patients to fight.

"People who have cancer they have to fight and they have to be courageous," Silman said.

She also hopes the song motivates able people to give.

"It's to encourage people to put reminders out like the pink ribbons and things and it's really hard in Cape Girardeau to forget," Silman said.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

Hey everybody gather round, (clap) The Cancer Fight (Song/Cheer/chant) is our sound; (clap)(First line can be repeated several times to get everyone’s attention)(clapping is ) clap, clap, (clap-clap) like 1-2-Whole beats, than two ½ beats)Feel our beat and stomp your feet, scream and shout get off your seat;

Our (team/town/etc) is all, pinked-up; our town (or school, club, any group) is all, pinked-up.(echo at first coma, “we’re all pinked up) also on repeat) Pink ribbons everywhere,(clapping) on our shirts and in our hair;On our boots and all we wear, on our streets creating flair;

Our (?) is all pinked-up; our (town/school) is all pinked-up.Echo “We’re all pinked-up)

All the girls are wearing boxing gloves, (clapping) they are pink, but they are tough;We’ve got the will and we’ve got the fight; we’ve got the strength and we’ve got the might;

We’re all here with a common goal; (clap) in this fight are friend and foe; (Clap)Dig in your pocket find a dime, (Clap) the cure for cancer is a dollar sign. (Clap)

Our (?) is all pinked-up; our (town/school) is all pinked-up.Echo (we’re all pink-up)

One more birthday, one more year; one more smile and one less tear;One less worry, one less fear; make some noise, show you care;

Our (?) is all pinked-up; our(town/school) is all pinked-up.Echo (we’re all pinked up) Old school is to accept ones blight;(Clap) new rule is to fight, fight, fight; (clap)All the Big Dogs are here tonight and we’re gonna pray with all our might,

(This line is to be spoken with sincerity) That it will be God’s Will, that we might win “this” fight.!

Our (?) is all pinked up; our( town/school) is all pinked up.Echo(we’re all pink-up)

The survivors are the real hero’s; (clapping) light a candle and soothe some souls;Run a relay, express yourself; (spoken) and pray.(spoken with sincerity) and remember; it could be “you” not someone else;Our (town/school) is all pinked-up! (echo) we’re all PINKED-UP

Silman hopes one day that the song can be used as a chant for schools and fundraising events as more and more organizations embrace the "pink" brand.

If are interested in helping the fight to against breast cancer, you can participate in Saint Francis Medical Center's Pink Up campaign.

Each $100 raised provides a free mammogram to a Cape Girardeau woman who couldn't afford the screening.